Stretchable band of shirred fabric



Feb- 14, 1961 r .1. NACHMAN 2,971,197

STRETCHABLE BAND OF SHIRRED FABRIC Filed Aug. 28, 1957 JACK NACHMAN United States Patent 2,971,191 STRETCHABLE BAND or snnmnn FABRIC Jack Nachman, Easley, S.C assignor to Swirl, Inc.,

Easley, S.C.

Filed Aug. 28, 1957, Ser. No. 680,733

1 Claim. (Cl. 2-76) My present invention relates to a stretchable band of shirred fabric, and has particular reference to the use of zig zag stitching for attaching two substantially parallel elastic cords to the marginal, hemmed portions of two edge-connected panels of fabric to form an attractive, ornamental and stretchable shirred band along said hemmed portions of the fabric and portions of the fabric adjacent thereto.

The usual practice in sewing elastic cord upon fabric is to pierce both the fabric and the cord itself by a line or series of stitching. Although the stitching or binding is accomplished after puckering or bunching of the fabric, it is apparent that stitching passing through the elastic cord not only weakens the cord, but also has a tendency to prevent full measure of the cords ability to stretch. Also, in the past, where the stitching did not pass through the cord, the stitching slipped thereabout and eventually caused the fabric to lose its elasticity and the cord to pull loose.

It is, therefore, an object of my invention to provide a stitch for binding elastic cord to fabric Without the stitching passing through the cord itself.

Another object of my invention is to provide a stitching for binding elastic cord to fabric wherein both the fabric and cord will assume their maximum stretchability.

Another object of my invention is to provide a stitching for binding elastic cord to fabric wherein the fabric may freely stretch elastically in a direction along the length of the elastic cord.

Another object of my invention is to sew and lay upon a fabric a series of stitches which give the eye appeal of a binding.

Other objects of my invention are to provide an improved device of the character described, that is easily and economically produced, which is sturdy in construction, and which is highly eificient in operation.

With the above and related objects in view, my invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts, as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a plan view showing an elastic cord sewn upon fabric by a zigzag stitch embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the stitching showing the reverse side of the fabric.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an end enlarged view of the fabric and cord.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawing, in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts, I show two pieces of fabric, generally designated as A, A, upon each of which an elastic cord, generally designated as B, is sewn thereupon by a zigzag stitching, generally designated as C. For the purposes of the present specification and the subjoined claim, I designate the piece of fabric A as an upper panel and the piece of fabric A as a lower panel. Each panel A and A is reversely folded along a marginal edge thereof to form a marginal hemmed portion as indicated at D and D, respectively, and said two hemmed portions are connected together along said lines of fold thereof in coplanar, abutting engagement as indicated at B.

Each of the cords B comprises a conventional elastomeric core or rubber like element 12 having a cotton or suitable fabric sheath or tube 14 woven thereabout whereby the sheath permits maximum extensibility of the core 12. It is also to be observed that while a cord is shown and described which is circular in cross section, a fiat rectangular tape or elliptical element may also be incorporated satisfactorily.

The fabric of which the upper panel A and the lower panel A are made is any conventional textile material which is to be sewn, for example, into a garment wherein a, stretchable band portion is to be desired, such as a waist band. The cord B is stretched slightly along its longitudinal axis to place the same in a longitudinally tensioned state when the stitching C is applied to bind said cord to the fabric. The line of zig zag stitching C passes peripherally and longitudinally about the cord B and through both layers of fabric constituting the hemmed portion D or D but at no time passes through the core 12 or the sheath 14 of the cord and is sewn in a zigzag line peripherally adjacent the sheath. The stitching C is generally accomplished by conventional sewing machines and the line of stitching comprises a thread 16 which traverses the cord laterally in. a zigzag line as it progresses longitudinally along the cord. It is to be observed that the stitching 16 is performed on the interior side of the garment while the cord is facing upwardly so as to avoid any possibility of the 'threads passing through any portion of the cord. The line of zigzag stitching 16 appears on the inside face of the fabric to maintain the cord securely sewn to the fabric.

After the line of stitching along the longitudinal extent of the cord B is completed, the cord is relaxed from its tensional state to enable the stitching to maintain secure peripheral binding. It is to be noted that this binding of the zig zag stitching upon the peripheral surface of the cord occurs since the cord diameter is narrowed when it is in its extended state, and conversely, the diameter is increased when the cord is relaxed. When the tension of the cord B is released, the fabric becomes shirred or puckered along the longitudinal length of the cord to provide a very pleasing appearance in the hemmed portions D and D and portions of the fabric panels adjacent thereto.

The shirring or puckering of the fabric due to the contraction of the elastic cord B renders the line of connection E between the lines of fold of the two hemmed portions D and D less noticeable and adds materially to the appearance of the stretchable band. and to the appearance of the garment of which it is a part. Furthermore, since each elastic cord B is sewed to two layers which constitute the hemmed portion of the garment, instead of to a single ply or layer of fabric, the stretchable band, for example a waist band of a garment, will be stronger and more durable under repeated stretching and relaxing of the elastic cords. While I have shown the spaced, substantially parallel cords B sewn upon the abutting hemmed portion D and D at opposite sides of and spaced from the line of connection between the folds of said hemmed portions of the fabric as extending longitudinally of the fabric, the cords B may be sewn in any pattern whatsoever, as, for example, in a sine wave thereupon or in a zigzag pattern, whereby the fabric will have stretchability in any desired direction. Attention is invited to the fact that by sewing stitching peripherally about the cord without any piercing thereof, no weakening of the cord occurs thereby providing an extended life. Furthermore, the Zigzag arrangement of the thread prQ- vides a pleasing effect which creates the appearance of an ornamental binding.

Although my invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as being illustrative rather than limiting, since the invention may be variously embodied, and the scope of the invention is to be determined as claimed.

I claim as myinvention:

A stretchable band of shirred fabric comprising an upper fabric panel, a lower fabric panel, each of said panels being reversely folded along a marginal edge thereof to form a marginal hemmed portion, said panels being connected together in coplanar abutting engagement along the lines of fold of said hemmed portions, an elastic cord in a longitudinally tensioned state positioned against each of said hemmed portions and spaced inwardly of and substantially parallel to the connected and abutting lines of fold of said hemmed portions, and a line of zig zag stitching peripherally extending longitudinally abouteach of said elastic cords but not passing through the same, said line of stitching passing through the two layers of fabric constituting the respective hemmed portions, said elastic cords being held in position against the respective hemmed portions only by said lines of zig zag stitching, whereby shirring is formed along the hemmed portions and along portions of the fabric adjacent thereto upon release of thetension in saidrelastic cords.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 356,624 Curtis Jan. 25, 1887 1,074,580 Tyrrell Sept. 30, 1913 1,209,488 Phillips et a1 Dec. 19, 1916 2,072,020 Barmon Feb. 23, 1937 2,649,062 Nogler et al. Aug. 10, 1953 2,813,501 Shotsky Nov. 19, 1957 

